Weekend Pontoon Rentals in Newport Beach
Weekends are what Newport Harbor was built for. Saturday and Sunday are when the water fills up with sailboats and paddleboards, when the waterfront restaurants put their doors open, and when a two hour pontoon rental turns an ordinary afternoon into the part of the week everyone remembers.
Our 24 foot pontoon takes up to 12 guests on an open deck with shade over the seating. No boating license is required, the harbor runs at 5 mph throughout, and you can be checked in and on the water within twenty minutes of parking the car. The only thing weekends demand is that you book ahead.
The Best Time of Day to Take the Family Out
Morning, roughly 9 AM to 12 PM
Quietest
The calmest water and the easiest parking of the whole weekend. Best if you have young children or you want the harbor to yourselves.
Early afternoon, 12 PM to 3 PM
Busiest
Peak sun, peak boat traffic and peak parking demand. Book this slot for the classic summer weekend feel, and arrive early.
Late afternoon, 3 PM to 5 PM
Easing off
Traffic starts thinning as morning rentals come in. A good compromise between warmth and space.
Golden hour and sunset
Books out first
The most requested slot of the weekend by a wide margin. Reserve this one well ahead.
Weekend Rates
Saturdays, Sundays and recognized holidays are charged at our weekend rate. Additional hours can be added to any booking, and there are no surprise charges at the dock. Full current pricing is always shown on the booking page.
24 ft pontoon | Rate |
Weekday, 2 hours | $ [confirm] |
Saturday and Sunday, 2 hours | $ [confirm] |
Each additional hour | $ [confirm] |
Captain | Available for a fee, arranged at booking |
Pets | Small fee. Registered service animals free of charge. |
Which Weekends Count as Holiday Weekends
A defined list of holidays and their surrounding weekends are treated as holiday dates. If your plans fall near one of these, factor it into your budget and book earlier than you otherwise would.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Valentine’s Day
- Presidents’ Day
- Patrick’s Day
- Easter Sunday
- Mother’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Father’s Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Halloween
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving and the day after
- Newport Boat Parade
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
- New Year’s Eve
What Two Hours on the Water Actually Looks Like
Families often ask whether two hours is long enough. In a 5 mph harbor, it is. Here is roughly how the time tends to break down.
Birthdays and celebrations
Twelve seats, your own music and your own food and drink. Per head it usually costs less than a restaurant table, and nobody spends it looking at a menu.
Bachelor and bachelorette parties
A pontoon is the easy middle ground between a bar crawl and a boat charter. You control the pace, the playlist and the guest list.
Groups of friends and coworkers
Weekend afternoons on the harbor are sociable in a way that a restaurant is not. The wraparound seating means everyone is in the same conversation.
Showing visitors around
If someone is in town for the weekend, two hours on the harbor covers the waterfront homes, Balboa Island and the sea lions in one trip.
Sharing a Busy Harbor
Weekends put more boats on the water, which is part of the appeal, but it does ask a little more of whoever is driving. Your safety briefing covers all of this before you leave the dock.
- The whole harbor is a 5 mph no wake zone. Slow is the norm, not a restriction.
- Give way to the Balboa Ferry, commercial vessels and anything larger than you. They have less room to maneuver than you do.
- Stay clear of moorings and mooring lines so nothing fouls your propeller, and keep away from buoys.
- Lido Bridge is the only bridge you may pass under. Every other bridge in the harbor is off limits to protect your canopy.
- Your rental stays inside Newport Harbor. The motors are not built for open ocean.
- Beaching the boat is not allowed at any time, as shallow water can damage the hull, propeller or motor.
- Children aged 12 and under wear a life jacket at all times while underway.
Parking on a Weekend
Worth planning for, because weekend demand is real. There is parking in the underground structure at our building at 2901 West Coast Highway, Suite 160. Rates are set by the parking operator, currently running higher than usual because of ongoing construction nearby, and we are unable to validate.
If you would rather not deal with it, Triangle Square is about eight to ten minutes away with a large complimentary structure, and a rideshare from there is inexpensive. It also makes a good spot for dinner before or after. Wherever you park, check the posted signage.
What to Bring
- Sunscreen, hats and sunglasses
- Cooler with food and drinks, no glass
- A layer for the afternoon breeze
- Towels for damp seats
- A small speaker if you want music
- Flat, soft soled shoes or bare feet
- A bag for your trash
- Cash or card for the parking structure
Before You Arrive
- Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early. Check in and the safety briefing happen before your rental time starts.
- Bring your own food and drink. No glass on board please, and take your trash with you.
- One person aged 21 or over must rent and operate the boat. Anyone younger can drive only while supervised by someone 21 or over on board.
- Pets are welcome for a small fee. Registered service animals travel free of charge.
- All reservations are non refundable. Let us know at least 72 hours ahead and we will issue full store credit that never expires.
Reserve Your Weekend Slot
Pick your date, pick your time and book it in. Weekend availability moves quickly, and the slot you want today may not be there next week.
Call 949-326-2606 to ask about captains, timings or proposals.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Saturdays, Sundays and recognized holidays are charged at our weekend rate, which sits above the Monday to Friday price. Additional hours are charged at the same rate whichever day you book. Full current pricing is shown on the booking page, and there are no extra fees added at the dock.
Reservations are not strictly required, but for a Saturday or Sunday we would treat them as essential. Through summer and on holiday weekends, the best slots go one to two weeks out. Sunset and early afternoon fill first. If you are flexible on time, a morning slot is usually available at shorter notice.
It depends on what you want from the day. Mornings give you flat water, easy parking and a quiet harbor. Early afternoon gives you the full summer weekend atmosphere with more boats around you. Late afternoon and sunset are the most popular and need the most notice. The slot table above breaks each one down.
Our 24 foot pontoon takes up to 12 guests, so it works equally well for two people on an anniversary and a group of twelve celebrating a birthday. Children and infants each count as one person toward the total. If your group is larger than 12, call us and we will help you arrange a second boat alongside.
We treat a defined list of holidays and their surrounding weekends at holiday pricing, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Newport Boat Parade among others. The full list is published on this page and on our FAQs page. If your date falls near a holiday, check the list before you plan your budget.
Busier, yes. Too busy, no. The whole harbor runs at 5 mph with no wake, so even on the fullest Saturday the water stays calm and traffic moves slowly. You share the channel with the Balboa Ferry, sailboats and other rentals, and you give way and take your time. Most guests find the activity adds to the day rather than spoiling it.
All reservations are non refundable, and that applies to cancellations, no shows and late arrivals. We know plans change though, so if you tell us at least 72 hours before your booking we will issue full store credit for the value of your reservation. That credit never expires and can go toward any future trip.